Empire House has first stakes victory in Governor's Cup

Empire House disputed the pace from the start and fought past stretch leader Carolina Mia to win her first stakes in Saturday’s $75,000 California Governor’s Cup at Cal-Expo in Sacramento, Calif.

Ridden by Brayan Pena, Empire House ($13.40) needed all six furlongs to grab a clear advantage in the race for fillies and mares, prevailing by three-quarters of a length over 3-2 Carolina Mia. Empire House was timed in 1:10.67 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 80.

Carolina Mia, who started from the outside in a field of five, set a decent pace of 22.65 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.62 for a half-mile, closely pursued by Empire House. There was little between the two fillies and mares in early stretch.

Day Plan, the even-money favorite, finished third, losing by three lengths. Day Plan did not break as sharply as expected and was fourth on the backstretch and last on the turn before closing ground in the stretch.

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Warm Summer and Tip Top Gal completed the order of finish.

Empire House, a $500,000 purchase as a yearling at Keeneland in 2019, has won 4 of 20 starts and earned $141,720. The California Governor’s Cup was her fourth stakes appearance. She finished seventh, 10th, and ninth in her first three appearances in minor stakes in recent years at Golden Gate Fields and Turf Paradise.

Empire House, a 4-year-old filly by Empire Maker, races for Tom and Debby Stull’s Tommy Town Thoroughbreds and trainer Jonathan Wong.